Education and practical benefit

Planning for the future

With school on the horizon, it is worth reflecting on the value of taking the time to study, to improve yourself, and to learn new skills.

College, university, technical schools and training programs, even high school and primary or elementary schools can help you do that. A formal and focused settings isn’t absolutely necessary. Many people who do not have a formal education have an education nonetheless. But it sure helps if you can take a large chunk of time, focus on a specific area of interest, and come away with valuable new skills.

Keep in mind, though, that schools are by and large subsidized and to some extent artificial environments. This is to say, that very few people could afford to pay for their education if each student was charged tuition and the rate was set to cover all the costs involved. Building and operating a school is a very expensive prospect. Get in the habit of being very thankful if you pay very little or next to nothing and yet routinely go to school each day. Having said that, not everything you learn is such a setting is necessarily going to benefit you personally or help you down the road.

Discernment will be required early on in your education.

Money comes in, most often from taxpayers, and the bills get paid whether where is tangible practical benefit from studying each and every part of the curriculum or not. This isn’t to suggest that it is a good idea to be constantly questioning the rationale behind every single assignment that you are asked to do. But be aware, that there can be a big difference between what you may need to do to make it through the system, and what you really need to know in order to succeed when you get outside.

In saying this, I have no desire to offend any hard-working teachers or professors. But the reality is that their success is not always tied very tightly to yours. You will need to take responsibility for yourself. You will need to determine what you really need to know.

It is a good idea to begin by paying attention to what is basic and essential. Acquire basic knowledge and essential practical skills. Build from there. It depends what you want to do with your life. But very often, your marks won’t matter nearly as much as you might think. At one level, nobody is going to care even if you get good marks in, say, accounting. They will care though, if this means that you can get a job and then provide them with a quality service that they really need.

Yes, begin with the basics. Focus on practical outcomes. Become sophisticated and culturally refined if you like, but do this on the side; don’t make it your main concern.

From there, try to explore and develop a personal area of interest. This is to say, that it is a good idea to commit to a specific career path as soon as you can. Find out what you enjoy, what you are good at, what type of personality you have, and how you might go about identifying a career direction that takes these things into consideration. It can take a long time to get the training that you need. It can be very expensive as the years go by. So get started as soon as you can.

Be sure that you will clearly have a valuable service to offer others when your formal education comes to an end.

The planning book

Bought a thin black book the other day and labelled it “The planning book.” Such an exciting day it was, buying that book. Epic, indeed. Ranked right up there with other major world events (i.e. elections, economic problems, etc.). Should have been there to take it all in. It was quite something.

One newspaper headline captured the moment with this gripping title: “Man buys book at Walmart.” That about said it all. Such an exciting moment in world history. Truly amazing. An absolutely thrilling event to be sure that was now securely entrenched in our collective memory. Captivating. Compelling. How else could it be described? Children will be told this story for generations to come.

Yes, this book-buying expedition was really quite something.

People stopped talking and turned to stare as I marched towards that checkout line. It was awkward, to say the least. The silence was loud. Complete strangers reached out to shake my hand and pat me on the back as I passed by. More than a few people said it, loudly: “Bon chance mon ami!” And when I walked up to the counter and slapped that VISA card down, there was a spontaneous and enthusiastic round of applause. It went on and on.

Throughout the store, everyone was on their feet cheering wildly for a good ten minutes. It was like being at a big NFL football game. It was like the NHL playoffs or the NBA; like the closing ceremonies at the Olympics games in London. For I moment, I expected a classic British rock band to emerge from under the floor on a hydraulic stage. U2 would have been nice. Thankfully, the Spice Girls didn’t show up.

But then, when the fireworks started going off inside, thought it might be about time to take my brand new book and get out – and quickly head for the door. But I didn’t get far.

A dozen or so camera crews were crowded together outside blocking the way. Bright lights, microphones, jostling journalists, questions and more questions; it was quite a commotion. CNN, NBC, ABC, FOX, CBC, CTV, Global, etc…they all showed up to cover this incredible story and hit it from every possible angle. The colour of the book. The cost of the book. The size of the book. The reason for buying this book now. It seemed like the questions would never end.

A BBC reporter caught my attention with a crisp and delightful British accent. Said that he flew all night to get here and barely made it for this big day. But now that I was here with my book, and he was here in Canada with his crew, it would be brilliant, just brilliant, if I could tell people all around the world how I was feeling right now – at this very moment.

He talked so fast, like all the other reporters, that I barely had time to think.

“Well, I guess it has come down to this,” I said, slowly trying to gather my thoughts. “What I mean is that – it’s time. It’s time to move ahead in my life in a more clear and directed way. And this book…well, maybe this book will help.”

“So your feeling pretty good about your purchase? And you really think that this new book is going to help you find your way and possibly your place in this world?” he said. “That sounds like a lot to expect from one little book.”

He smiled as he talked, and seemed to hint that he already knew it was going to make a big difference by his tone of voice. There was a sense of anticipation hanging on each word he said.

“No, this book isn’t going to change everything,” I said, considering the unusually positive atmosphere around me. “But it is the planning-type people who tend to change the world.”

Driving home, the whole experience played over and over again in my mind. It was a day I will not soon forget.

And there it sits, even now: My new planning book

Surviving and thriving

At August 15, 2012
By Nathan
In Career & Life Planning, Meeting Needs
0

Having a safe place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear, clean water to drink, health care…all of these basic needs are obviously very important. And so are some basic beliefs.

Take the belief in God, for example. Turn your attention more specifically towards the gospel and Christ. What will you find? Whether you realize it or not, something significant that can meet your basic needs. Oh yeah, you can live without such a conviction. Many people and communities and cultures and countries do. But you can’t constantly think about what you believe and live very well for very long.

Cars break down if they do not receive the attention and care that they need, and so do people and relationships and entire cultures.

One of the often-repeated messages here at Career & Life Direction is simply this: Your life matters. Now, either this statement is true or it isn’t. I can’t say, “Your life matters because I say that it matters and will live like it matters and talk endlessly about how much it matters.” Blathering on like that won’t do much good. How would that help?

Don’t wait around for God to do everything for you while engaging in pious talk

And, if I thought that the belief system backing up all the your-life-matters talk was just one of many belief system options that hangs equally and endless in the air, I would have stopped talking a long time ago. Chances are very good that I wouldn’t have even started. By way of contrast, take someone who has rejected God and the gospel and Christ, and what will they tell you about your dignity and worth as a human being? What will they have to tell you, if they are honest?

Simon & Garfunkel wrote a beautiful and yet sad song many years ago. The title is worth mentioning at this point. It was called “The Sound of Silence.”

A shift towards a post-modern or atheistic worldview has the same effect as global warming: It makes solid-looking things melt away. Rational thought eventually melts when a Judeo-Christian worldview is rejected for too long, but that is another story. When the thinking ends, the chanting begins. It sounds something like this: “My life matters! My life matters! Don’t say it doesn’t! Don’t say it doesn’t! That is hateful! That is hateful! You are a hater! You are a hater!”

Exit: careful consideration. Enter: a mob mentality.

One positive aspect, though, about all the excessive chanting and noise, is that it suggests that most people have a deep conviction that their lives really do matter. They just don’t know why.

Don’t believe me? It is not so important whether or not you agree with everything I think or say. But you might want to ask yourself this question: “Who or what do I really believe?” Does your worldview imply that your life is anything much to get excited about? If it doesn’t, could it be that there is something wrong with what you presently believe?

Believing that your life matters, having this strong core conviction, will help you move ahead in your life. It will help you survive and even thrive.

If you do accept the gospel and a Christian worldview at some point, be sure to then avoid the problem of passivity. And yes, passivity is potentially a very large problem for Christian people. For the gospel is all about grace; it is all about a gift. At the core, the main message is about what Christ accomplished on our behalf by dying on the cross. It is all about choosing whether or not to accept this. There really isn’t much to do. And the implication is that your life and your future really, really, really, matters to God.

This message or story has been refered to as the gospel or “good news” for centuries. Have you ever wondered why?

Although the gospel is incredibly important, remember that it is part of a larger story. Yes, God has taken the responsibility to offer each human being who has ever lived a very valuable gift – something each person needs. But at the same time, it is very clear that God has no intention of doing absolutely everything for you or for me. In other words, you still have a lot of responsibility. You have a life to live. You have choices to make. You have gifts and talents that you need to find ways to develop and use. There are many things that you need to do.

So don’t wait around for God to do everything for you while engaging in pious talk. As a Christian, you need to learn to take responsibility for your own life under God. Please be sure to take this advice in the way that it is intended. It isn’t a random cutting remark. It is a strong word of encouragement.

For what it is worth, I have a graduate degree in Christian studies and I have lived long enough as a Christian to make more than a few mistakes. From my perspective, it is impossible to sort out exactly how my will and my choices relates to God’s. Christian theologians will be talking and arguing about this for years to come. What matters is that God has acted and will act in this world, and that you and I need to act too.

Don’t underestimate the measure of power and potential influence that you have been given. If a large and growing number of Christian people are taking strategic action daily throughout this world, it is going to make difference. A big difference.

Who knows? Maybe you have a large role to play right where you have been placed on the planet. Maybe you will help your community and culture and civilization survive and even thrive.

Taking the time to clarify your career and life direction is one way that you can act right now.

Getting to the other side

Getting to the other sideQuestions to consider:

So, where are you at right now in your life?

Are you standing on the shore, standing still, when you should be out there on the sea?

Are you wondering where you should be sailing to in the first place?

Are you thinking that you don’t have much to offer, much to give?

Are you feeling like your journey doesn’t matter?

Where are you at right now in your life?

Are you pursuing your potential in every way?

Are you planning to make a difference, working to reach your destination?

Are you struggling simple to stay afloat?

Where are you at right now?

Wherever you are, I hope that this website will help you get to where you need to be, help you take the next step, help you make it – eventually – to the other side.

Finding what you are looking for

Arriving at your destination

One advantage of the Internet is that an incredible amount of information is instantly available. One disadvantage of the Internet, and many websites for that matter, is that an incredible amount of information is instantly available.

Where do you begin? How do you find the specific information that you are looking for?

More to the point: How do you avoid having a nervous breakdown in the process of your exciting journey of discovery? Spend too much time on the Internet and before too long your brain starts to shut down.

Entering this website is like opening a book. You could spend the same amount of time reading here as it would take you to work through a 300 or so page book. If you want to do that, fine. But if not, here are a few questions to consider in order to determine where to begin:

1. Are you here because you are young and have no idea what to do with your life?

If so, may I suggest beginning by trying to gain an overview of the task that is ahead. In other words, identify the steps that you will need to take in order to move ahead in your life. Imagine that you are watching your life from very high up and from very far away. At the moment, you notice that you seem to be standing still. Would it concern you if you were still standing still, stuck, frozen in place, five years from now? If it would, you will need to take some time and work hard now to prevent that from happening.

From there, go to the “Discover” section and work your way through what you find. While it is all important, pay close attention to the part about identifying your personality type as you begin.

In the near future, a more complete online career-planning tool will be offered at Career & Life Direction for a small fee. This resource is something you may want to take advantage of when it arrives in September 2012.

2. Are you here because you are a little older and very frustrated with your situation in life?

What you may need right now is some encouragement at an emotional level more than anything else. If you are deeply discouraged, if you have been wounded to the core, words of affirmation and encouragement and perspective might benefit you the most. You will need more than words, but words can help. You will need time to heal and rest and recover before you can launch out again on an exciting new adventure.

You will also need other people. You will need people who understand you and who are interested in your life. Interested in your future. Interested in your dreams. Wanting to be alone during a difficult time is understandable; it is sometimes necessary. Be careful, however, not to stay in a solitary state for too long. Find ways to make meaningful connections with other people. The “Connect” section on this site can help you do just that.

3. Are you here because you need help making a specific career or life direction decision?

If that is your situation, if would be prudent to talk to somebody you can trust about the details of the various opportunities before you. One way to organize your thoughts before hand, is to take a sheet of paper, draw a line down the middle, and then write down possible positive and negative results. Do this for each individual option. Then, when you meet with your friend or mentor, you will be more prepared to talk about the decision that you will soon need to make.

Nobody to talk to? Sometimes confusion is present because you may not have a clear vision of where you are going or how you are going to get there. I have personally worked through a couple career-planning books which helped give me a better idea of what I wanted to do with my life. But this takes a long time. And not everyone enjoys sitting alone by themselves for hours on end reading and reflecting.

For now, try to separate your career and life planning into two separate categories: short-term and long-term. If you don’t have a fairly firm long-term plan at the moment, I would recommend that you avoid making any major decisions until you do. At the same time, be sure to make the best possible short-term decisions that you can.

Finding freedom

He had been running around. Running all over the place. Running on empty. Frantic. In a frenzy. Smartphone in hand. Looking urban and edgy. Tired. Weary. Lonely, if the truth must be told. But still running, and wondering why. It seemed like forever since he had even noticed the birds or the sky.

Forty-five “friends” on Facebook called for his attention today. Sixty-two emails magically appeared in his inbox. The phone kept on ringing all day. And walking home from the office, he was greeted by dozens of fourteen-second ads on a four-foot-wide flat screen TV. The carefully crafted images seemed more real and more appealing than his reality. For today was only Tuesday. The weekend was a long ways away. Felt like it would never come.

Settling into his favorite chair, his attention was quickly riveted on one thing after another that was apparently missing in his life. Then again, maybe something was?

No, he didn’t need another remote control device complete with twenty-five bewildering buttons. He had enough. More than enough of those. If only he could find the one he needed right now to change the channel. That would be nice. It must be somewhere in that pile of magazines and books and papers over there by the couch. Ah, there it was. It was parked on top the 250-page manual that was required reading to make it work. What a nightmare! It took one of his friends two weeks just to figure out how to turn his TV on. So much for living in a progressive modern world.

Another day…and another computer system somewhere goes down.

Technology. All of these gadgets were very nice. They worked well, when the worked. They were luxuries that many people living in less fortunate parts of the world would have longed for. What would the world be like without the Internet? Without cell phones and voice mail and television and cars and airplanes and skyscrapers, etc.? These innovations had added a lot. But, at the same time, sometimes it felt as if technology had taken over his life. In fact, right now he was struck with the realization that a combination of people and ideas and things had pretty much completely taken over his life.

For all the talk about a new level of cultural freedom he was feeling more controlled than he ever had been. More confined. He seemed to be drifting along for the most part. Doing and thinking and living as he was told. He could, for example, believe whatever he wanted as long as he chose to believe that. The extra activity he had inadvertently signed up for now appeared to be a necessary part of this philosophical package. It served to cloak the aching emptiness that turned up everywhere as a result. Slowing down. Taking the time to stop and think. That was the real danger now.

How could he ever hope to develop a clear sense of direction in his life if he was buying into this way of thinking and always incredibly busy?

Is this how he wanted to keep on living? Bouncing from one sound bite and one image and one experience and one complicated device and one demand and one belief system to another? The other day he noticed a fellow on the street with a slogan on his shirt. This is what it said: “THINK: It isn’t illegal yet.”

The view was beautiful from up here. Fifteen floors up, his condo had a commanding view of the skyline and the surrounding area. But who had the time to take it all in? The city lights, the river winding out into the bay, the ocean off in the distance, the ships coming in…it was too much to process in a moment or in a lifetime. Images were coming back from the rover on Mars now. There they were, in high-definition, on his TV. And how did they compare to the view from his balcony?

Turning around, and walking back inside, he came to one clear conclusion: This planet, this place, was made for living; and it was time to take action in a whole new way and finally begin to live his life.

Relentless determination

The calm before the storm

Wisdom is required in order to know when to change directions in your life and when to keep pressing on and trying to make progress travelling in the same direction. There is no point attempting the same thing over and over and over and over again when it obviously isn’t working.

Having said that, there are many times in life when what you will need more than anything is a large dose of endurance. Perseverance. Grit. Determination. That is what you will need.

Life will be difficult in many ways. It will not be easy. Building anything of value takes work. Hard work. You will face apathy, criticism, and outright opposition. Get used to it. That is the way this world often works. Look for the support and encouragement you will need; search until you find it. But at the same time, brace yourself for the journey that lies ahead. Do what you need to do to make it to your destination.

As you prepare, be sure to carefully seek wise advice before you commit to a specific life direction for a long period of time. The importance of seeking wise counsel cannot be overestimated. In the end, you are responsible to make the decisions that impact your life the most. You cannot lay the blame on other people for the consequences. But still, if you are facing a very significant decision in your life right now, please do not make it alone. Get all the good advice you can. You are going to need it.

Build strategic relationships. Pick up the phone. Get on the Internet. Check out a book. Talk to people you respect who have relevant experience in the specific area of life or work that you are interested in or struggling with. Take the initiative. Take the time. Make it happen. So it feels a bit awkward talking to someone you don’t know very well. So what? Dealing with nervous feelings for a short period of time is much better than dealing with a bad decision for many years to come.

Once you have made the decision that needs to be made, stick with it. Do not constantly second-guess yourself. Bring the analyzing to an end and focus on the task that lies ahead. Focus on your future. Focus on your dreams. Picture the difference that your life is going to make. Imagine the impact that all of your planning and preparation – and now perseverance – is going to have. Fast forward fifty years or so and picture yourself standing before your Creator and saying these words: “As you know, I did everything I could with what I had.”

And when the going gets tough, remember these words. Remember the words of a famous speech given by Winston Churchill during World War II. Remember what this man said to a large group of people facing a crisis situation in their lives. Run it through your mind again and again. It wasn’t a speech that many people were expecting. But, here is what Winston had to say:

“Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up! Do not give up!”

You get the idea. Whatever you do…don’t give up now.

What you have to offer

Launching from where you live

Rather than thinking initially about what specific type of career or life calling might be a good choice for you, begin by thinking about what you might have to offer this world. And yes, you do have something to offer. If it is too overwhelming picturing yourself next to everybody on a needy planet, go with your community, or family, or friends, etc.

Believe me: Somebody somewhere could benefit from what you have.

What have you got? What is your story? How do you feel you might fit even in the immediate environment you see around you?

Begin with basics: Are you a man or a woman? No, seriously. I am all for equality in terms of dignity and value but your gender does make a difference. A big difference. Women bring something to this world that men don’t and vice versa. You might not have read the book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, but you likely already recognized a number of important differences from daily life.

Men, for example, are known for their ability to focus their effort or energy on one specific thing for a long period of time. Women, on the other hand, are typically very good at taking many different things into consideration all at once. Men go shopping to buy something. Women go shopping to look at everything. Men tend to travel to reach a specific destination. Women usually want to experience everything along the way. What is a strength in some situations may be a weakness in another.

This is only one example. While men and women are similar in some ways they are also very different in many others. Be prepared: The differences are likely much larger than you think. Getting to know the usually characteristics of your own gender and the other gender will serve you well. It will open your eyes to the areas in which you might be the most effective.

Moving on. How would you describe your physical condition? Are you tall or short or somewhere in between? How is your level of fitness? Do you have any obvious physical limitations that might need to be considered? How is your eye sight? On a scale of one to ten, how high is your energy level? Do you struggle with any chronic conditions? These questions may seem to lead towards identifying limitations. But that is not the intent. The purpose is rather to develop a very clear view of what you have to offer.

Nations and individuals both need to identify their natural resources. Possibility thinking needs to be anchored to reality. Connected.

When Bethany Hamilton was thirteen years old she lost one of her arms in a shark attack. And yes, it is as painful for me to write this as it is for you to read this. It is horrible to even imagine something like this happening. For Bethany, the pain was experienced on another level. She almost died. The movie Soul Surfer tells her story.

Missing an arm is an important detail, to say the least, especially if you happen to be a competitive surfer like Bethany. It wasn’t easy but somehow she was able to carry on. So if you realize that all of your body parts are intact and working relatively well…give thanks. Consider also that a healthy body is a very significant asset that you can make good use of in the years to come.

Next, identify where you live. That shouldn’t take too long. Is your home on an island somewhere out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? Do you live in a small village in Africa? Are you part of one of the many mega-cities in China? Are you quite isolated or living in the heartland of your civilization? Is it blazing hot or freezing cold or somewhere in between? What immediate opportunities are there for you in your area? Location, location, location. It matters.

Find a globe and stick a brightly coloured pin in where you live. Go to Google Maps and more or less do the same. Ask yourself this question: What might somebody living where I am have to offer that somebody living somewhere else might not?

Growing up, as I did, on a farm in western Canada is quite a bit different from, say, growing up downtown in New York City. If you looking for space and solitude and silence, for example, rural Saskatchewan is one place where you can easily find it. And, in New York City? Not so much. As an introvert I have come to appreciate the importance of having a quiet setting to reflect. Perhaps sustained uncluttered thought can be of some benefit to others? You never know.

Finally, there is the issue of language. What language do you speak? And can you speak any additional languages? My present location on the planet makes this a very relevant question. If you live in Quebec, for example, there is a very good chance that you will naturally grow up being bilingual. Speaking French and English will be a natural part of daily life. And, if you recently immigrated to Canada from another country there is a very good chance that you will be trilingual. View each language you speak as an additional asset.

Growing up speaking English in a largely English-speaking world has given me one advantage that many other people do not have. This language skilll is part of what I personally have to offer. I am, of course, making use of it right now. But it would be even better if I was able to function freely in French, German, Russian, or any of the many other languages which are frequently used around the world. Learning another language would add to what I presently have to offer.

So, as you reflect on a few of your basic background details, what is it that you have to offer? Have you considered that you likely have a lot more to offer than you presently think?

Going to good extremes

The Apostle Paul prayed night and day and worked night and day. That is what it says. He was not slack in either area of life. Had to sleep sometime, to be sure. But he didn’t neglect the importance of communicating with the most powerful person in the universe, and he didn’t neglect his own power to make a difference in his world.

What do you think of that?

Everything in the Bible is not there, of course, as an example to be followed. And different people had different ways of going about their callings or vocations in life. At the same time, personal and human limits need to be kept in mind. We are not praying machines or working machines, etc. People need to do other things with their time as well. For example, people also need to stop, slow down, rest, and simply focus on God and God’s creation much more than they presently do.

But do you think that things might be better in your community or country if more people talked to God constantly and made good use of the time and energy they have been given? I do.

Things did not look promising at all for the early Christians when the Apostle Paul was around. It was a dangerous time. It was a very difficult time. The situation often looked bleak. But, consider how things were different because of the life that Paul and many others like him lived.

There is no doubt that this man played an important role in terms of starting a movement that has changed this world. Did he know how things would turn out? Not likely.

Here is the point: It is always a good idea to do what you can with what you have. And it is also a good idea to constantly communicate with Someone who can accomplish much, much more than you can.

Pray and work. Work and Pray. Both things require your attention today.

On taking chances

You will need to be willing to take some risks in order to move ahead in your life. Be careful, though, about the type of risks you take – particularly when they involve other people.

Here is a little song to play in the back of your mind if you are about to impulsively embark on an incredibly risky venture. Get “Take a Chance on Me” by ABBA playing in the back of your mind. Then, imagine that you are driving with a friend in your car, that a gas station is just up ahead, and that the gas gauge is getting really low.

Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance…

Take a Chance with Me

I won’t change my mind, we can’t wait in line

Hey, gas ain’t free

Take a chance with me

And you need me, really, cuz this is my car

We’re going that way, and we’re going far

You’d like to fly, fly far away

Still here I see

Take a chance with me

Gonna keep on driving, till the tank is almost dry

Push the pedal down, drive right on by

Take a chance with me

(The gauge is getting lower)

Take a chance with me

We could get stranded, we could be walking, many miles together

Listen to your yelling, very little talking, things could better

Oh, I know you’ve got

So much that you wanna do, when you catch up with me

It’s tragic

We didn’t make it there, okay it isn’t fair

You told me so

But I had to go

No, I won’t change my mind, we can’t wait in line

Hey, gas ain’t free

Take a chance with me

And you need me, really, cuz this is my car

We’re going that way, and we’re going far

You’d like to fly, fly far away

Still stuck here I see

Take a chance with me

Gonna keep on driving, till the tank is almost dry

Push the pedal down, drive right on by

Take a chance with me

(Maybe I should have driven slower)

Take a chance with me

Oh, you should take a pill, not be in such a fury, no you won’t catch up with me

You might wanna really hurt me, but buddy don’t worry, I ain’t gonna let you

Let me take a bow

My feet are fast enough to flee when things get rough

Or it’s tragic

You say you’ll take your time, can’t get this off your mind

You can’t let it go

Yes, you told me so

I won’t change my mind, we can’t wait in line

Hey, gas ain’t free

Take a chance with me

And you need me, really, cuz this is my car

We’re going that way and we’re going far

You’d like to fly, fly far away

Still here with I see

Take a chance with me

Gonna run my very best, quickly flee

Put this old car to the test, took a chance with me

Ah ah ah ah aaaah, ah ah ah ah aaaah!

Hey, gas ain’t free

You took a chance with me

Gonna run my very best, quickly flee

Put this old car to the test, took a chance with me

(Took a chance, took a chance, took a chance with me)

Ah ah ah ah aaah, ah ah ah ah aaah!

Hey, gas ain’t free

You took a chance with me

{Repeat and fade}

“Hello…911? Yeah, I have a little problem”

Your culture counts

There is more than one way to celebrate the diversity of cultures in this world.

One well-established technique is to claim that nothing is true and therefore that no group can claim superiority over any other. Once truth is ejected from our thinking, we are led to believe, somehow we are all going to be magically united: It is just going to be one big, happy, international potluck after another.

This, dare I say, is a dumb idea that has been around now for a very long time.

True, competing truth-claims have contributed to conflict in the past. But there is much more to the typical conflict equation. Consider, sadly, any particular group of Christian people. What will you find? All to often, it will be people who claim to believe much the same things and yet are still occasionally fighting (quarrelling might be a better word) among themselves.

Take away the core convictions people have in common, and what do you suppose might happen? Even more conflict?

Another option, is to hold that each culture should be celebrated because each culture actually matters. Part of the truth is that they do matter. Consider that from this perspective there is going to be a whole lot more authentic cultural-diversity-celebration going on. The music will somehow be more lively. The dancing…more joyful. There will be more heart, more flair. It will be a true festival – a feast.

Everything in any one particular culture will likely not be celebrated. But something in each one will be. The English might turn to the French and say, “What would this world be like without the joy you bring?” The Spanish might give the Germans a great big hug and exclaim, “Your discipline and determination is absolutely wonderful!”

Having a sense of what is good and true and right, each person in each culture could look for it in cultures and communities around them. And affirm what they find.

One problem that affects many people, preventing them from becoming all that they were intended to be, is a deep sense of inferiority – personal and even national inferiority. With this in mind, although a few days ago I expressed a few words of genuine affirmation for American people, today I need to say (please take this the right way) that I am glad I am not an American. I am a Canadian. Canadians are important people too. They have a role to play. Like everybody else. I am happy to be who I am. Are you?

When deeper truths fade they are often replaced with shallow lies. Consider the whole idea that you need to be wealthy or powerful to be important. Where did that come from? Does that really make sense? Take a human being, give him or her a wad of cash, and somehow they are now instantly transformed into a more valuable human being? So that is how it works? Hand some guy a gun and he arrives at a whole new level of human dignity? No. Not at all.

People and cultures and nations who have a measure of wealth and power need to be thankful and careful about how they use what they have. It does give them more immediate opportunity to exert a positive influence. They have more responsibility to be sure. But it doesn’t make them more important as a group of human beings. Not in terms of dignity or core worth, anyway. So as you prosper or struggle with poverty, please keep this thought in mind.

Your culture counts. Your people matter. Your language is important. Your history is significant. Your success deserves to be celebrated.

Whatever you do, don’t get in the habit of putting your culture and people down. Consider, rather, that the nation you are a part of may well have incredible potential.